Lecture 2 商务词汇翻译.docx

湖南第一师范学院外语系课程教案第18页 课 题Lecture 2 Translation of business English words 授课时数2授课类型Lecture教 学目 的1. To get students know how to finalize word meaning;2. To have a good command of methods to translate business English words: extension, conversion of parts of speech, shift of perspective, amplification and omission, repetition;3. To let students familiar with translation of number in business English.教 学重 点1. Methods of translation of Part of speech, shift of perspective, amplification and omission;2. Translation of number in business English 教 学难 点Shift of perspective, translation of number in business English主要知识语言点1. Choice of word meaning;2. Extension3. Conversion of parts of speech4. Shift of perspective5. Amplification and omission6. Repetition;7. Translation of number in business English教 学 过 程学时分配教 学 过 程学时分配Period 1Step 1 Lead-in 词义的选择（Choice of Meaning） 变化中的词义（warming-up）1. The expansion or generalization of meaning (意义泛化) 2. The narrowing or specialization of meaning (意义特化) 3. The shift of meaning1. Extension or generalizationIt means that a word originally having a specialized now has become generalized. The word has extended from a narrow sense of a concept to a broader sense of the concept.A. Specific generalB. Concrete abstractC. Technical term general termD. Proper nouns common nouns2. Specialization/NarrowingIt means a process in which a word of broad meanings acquires narrower senses.A. General specificB. Abstract specificC. Common nouns proper nounsD. General term technical term变化中的词义（举例） Countdown 倒计时 扩展为: 十分危急的情况 Fallout 放射性尘埃 扩展为:（不良的）后果 Economy 家庭料理 转化为: 经济Orientation 东方 转化为: 方向 liquor 液体 缩小为:白酒Step 2 Presentation（一）根据汉语的表达习惯确定词义 net income 净收入net profit 纯利润net conclusion 最终结论1. a low figure 小数目2. workers on low incomes 收入低的工人。3. The simplest way to succeed in business is to buy low and sell high. 生意成功最简单的途径就是贱买贵卖。4. The value of the pound has fallen to a new low against the dollar.英镑兑换美元的比值已跌到新的（最）低点。技巧点评：商务英语翻译不同于文艺作品的翻译，一般不讲求文采、韵味、修辞等，而要求把“准确严谨”的原则置于首位；在翻译专业术语和关键词语时，一定要在透彻地理解原文的精神实质的基础上，准确地用符合汉语表达习惯的说法表达出来。（二）根据词性确定词义 1The price quoted include a progressive commission to be calculated on FOB basis of 2% for a single order for 10 dozen or up, 3% for 30 dozen or up. 所报价格包括累进佣金，按FOB价为基础计算，每定单在10打及以上时佣金为2%，30打及以上为3%。 2Party B is commissioned by the manufactures to buy steel plates and this contract shall supersede (replace) all previous commitments.乙方受制造厂家的委托购买钢板，因此本合同将取代以前的一切承诺。由于词性不同，以上两句中的commission的词义有很大差别。在前一句中名词，意思是“佣金”；在后一句中却是动词，意为“委托”或“代理”。稍作引申：3The Contractor shall be responsible for and shall carry out all maintenance work during commissioning period. 在试运行期间，承包方应负责进行一切维修工作。 翻译练习：1. Arbitration of all questions in dispute under this contract shall be at the choice of either party and shall be in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of American Arbitration Association. 对在合同中一切有争议的问题是否付诸仲裁将由任何一方做出选择，并须按照美国仲裁协会的国际仲裁规则进行仲裁。 3. Our products are manufactured from the choice grades of material and will satisfy you in every respect. 我方产品均用上等材料制成，因此，在各方面都会使贵方满意。技术点评：由于以上两句中的choice的词性不同，在词义的确定上也有所不同。第一句中的Choice是名词，意思为“选择”（Act of choosing between two or more possibilities)；第二句中的Choice是形容词，意思为“优质的”（of very good quality）。 当然，必要时，还可以转换词汇的词性：例如将副词转换成形容词或介词，名词转换成动词等等。同时，词性的转换也存在着一定的规律。一般而言，英语中多用名词和介词，而中文里多用动词和副词。以后将对此进行详细讲解。 Period 2（三） 根据专业来确定词义1 The premium rates vary with differed interests insured.2If the buyer fails to pay any account when due, the buyer shall be liable to pay the seller overdue interest on such unpaid amount from the due date until the actual date of payment at the rate of five percent per annum, such overdue interest shall be paid upon demand of the seller. 3The articles of our immediate interest are your “CHON-HOI” brand Agricultural Washing Machines. 技术点评：以上三句出自三个不同的行业，第一个句子出自保险业，“interest”一词在句中的意思是“被保险的货物”；第二个句子的背景是国际贸易，“interest”的意思是“一方由于未能支付到期的应付款项而向另一方支付的利息”；而第三句属于营销业，此时的“interest”则应译成“对什么产品、品牌感兴趣”。翻译练习： 1It has raised its JV equity to 70% to gain management control. It has trebled its initial investment and is now expanding its product range and manufacturing capacity to meet growing demands. 公司将其在合资公司的股份增至70%，以获得管理控制权。这使它的先期投资增加了两倍，而且现在正在扩大产品范围和生产能力来满足不断增长的需求。 技术点评：equity 通常指“公正、公平”的意思，而在金融市场上指的是企业资产中所占的股份。initial investment是商贸中常用的术语，通常译为“先期投资”或“预付款”，而不是“一开始的投资”。2Due diligence should be done before finalizing any large investment or acquisition. 在确定大笔投资或并购前需要进行尽职调查。 3. The terms of the transaction have been negotiated on an arms length basis. 交易条款按照公平原则商订。（四） 根据词的搭配关系和上下文来确定词义1In case of any request by either party, the party having possession of the desired record may deliver the appropriate records to the requesting party.2The price difference should in no case be as big as USD 25 per metric ton.3In the case of an order for more than 6 000 pieces, Party B allows a special discount of 6 percent.技术点评：尽管每个句子中都含有“case”这个词，但它在以上三个句子中都由于其搭配形式不同而具有不同的意义。第一句中的短语“in case of”用于引导状语，意思为“假使、如果”；第二句中“in no case”相当于一个副词，意思为“决不”；而第三句中的“in the case of”虽然在结构上与“in case of”类似，但意义却不大相同，意思为“至于，就来说”。练习：再以一个常见的词为例：account，可指“账户、客户、生意往来关系”，复数则可指“账目、会计部门、账款”等，它在不同搭配或上下文中可有不同的含义：1When the debt is clearedas it must be by the time the customer retiresand the account goes into credit, it will attract interest at about 5 percent. 顾客退休时，必须结清欠款，随后账户可转为信用货款，收取约百分之五的利息。 2The company is one of our major accounts, so we should do our best to satisfy their needs. 那家公司是我们的主要客户之一，因此我们得尽可能满足他们的需求。 3. The CFO was accused of falsifying the company accounts. 财务总监被控伪造公司账目。 4. She works in accounts. 她在会计部门任职。 5. Accounts payable is created when a firm deals with suppliers who extend credit.公司与供货商交易时因其延长信货而产生应付账款。技术点评：总之，一个词会因其搭配形式的差异而具有不同意义，这在商务合同中出现得尤其频繁。在此，在翻译实践中，译者需要运用语篇理论，通过词语在语篇中的运用来确定其真正含义。正因为如此，译者有必要将多义词放到全文中去理解，而无论从哪方面斟酌考虑，词义、专业或词的搭配，无一不与语篇紧密相联。 词义的引申（Extension）1. Every life has its roses and thorns. 每个人的生活都有甜有苦。2. sleep deficit 睡眠不足 词义的引申指的是在一个词所具有的原始意义的基础上，根据上下文和逻辑关系进一步加以引申，选择适当确切的译语词汇来表达，避免生搬硬套地逐字死译，这样才能使译语更加通顺流畅。正如前文所述，英语词义对上下文的依赖性强，可变性大，因此词义引申在英译汉中尤为重要。（一）词义的转化1. These days, the U.S. economy isnt “graduating enough scientists to fill the need of the coming decades,” frets Charles C. Leighton, “Thats a real concern.” 近来，美国经济“未培养出足够的科学家来满足今后几十年发展的需要，”查尔斯C莱顿抱怨说，“这才是真正需要关注的问题。” （graduating 由“毕业”转化为“培养” 。）2. The factors which are likely to influence investment spending do not stop here. 可能影响投资开支的因素并不止这些。（在此，do not stop here由“不停留在这里”转化趁“并不止这些”。 ）3.Our products, if maintained properly and regularly, can at least see twenty years service. 我们的产品如果适当地定期检修，至少可以使用二十年。4. The huge increase in oil prices in the 1970s cast a cloud over the development plans of many developing nations. 20世纪70年代石油价格猛涨，曾对许多发展中国家的经济发展计划投下一抹阴影。 Cloud在现代英语里可以表示“使人产生未曾想到的伤心或不愉快”。故本句如此引申。Cloud作动词用时，有“含混不清”、“不易看懂或理解”、“变得难以判别”、“玷污”之义，比如：Scandals clouded the popular presidents reputation. （丑闻玷污了深得民心的总统的声誉）。（二）词义的具体化 1. Now that the merger of “dot” and “com” has created so many young millionaires, theres a new topic: venture capital. 既然网络公司的兼并造就了如此多的百万富翁，我们面临一个新话题：风险资本。（一般公司网址都有“dot and com”，所以此处具体引申为“网络公司” ）2. All the wit and learning in the economic circle will be present at the seminar. 经济界的所有专家学者将出席这次研讨会。 （wit and learning由抽象的“智慧与学识”引申为具体的“专家学 者” ）翻译练习：1For the average consumer, voice-activated devices are a convenience; for the elderly and the handicapped, they may become indispensable for a wide variety of chores in the home. 对普通消费者来说，声触发装置能提供方便，对老年人和残疾人来说，它可能成为从事各种家庭杂务事不可或缺的帮手。2There is more to their life than political and social and economic problems, more than transient everydayness.他们的生活远不止那些政治的、社会的和经济的问题，远不止一时的柴米油盐问题。 3The Board tried its best to improve the balance sheet of the company.董事会已尽最大努力改善本公司的整体财务状况。（balance sheet在会计上固然可解作“资产负债表”，但是这个词还可引申为公司的“整体财务状况”。)（三）词义的抽象化 1The interest rates have see-sawed between 10 and 15 per cent. 利率一直在 10到15之间不断波动。（See-saw 由“跷跷板一上一下的交替摆动”抽象化为“波动”。）2Everyone knows that John lost his shirt when the business he had invested failed. 大家都知道，约翰生意失败后就倾家荡产了。 (lose his shirt 由“丢了一件衬衫”引申为“失去一切”，相当于汉语中常说的“连短裤都输没了”。）3CED Finklestein: He needs to pull a rabbit out of his hat to save the company.总经理芬克尔斯坦说：他需要拿出一个绝招来挽救公司。 （pull a rabbit out of his hat 原义为“从自己的帽子里抓出一只兔子来”，在此引申为“像耍魔术一样拿出一种不同凡响的解决办法”。译文简洁明晰地把总经理担心的心情表达了出来。）翻译练习：1 The owners son has the inside track for the job. 老板的儿子有优先获得这项职务的权利。inside track 原义为“内圈跑道”，在此引申为“优先的权利”。2The EECs common agricultural policy is a dinosaur which is adding 13.50 week to the food bill of the average British family. 欧洲经济共同体的农业共同政策早已不合时宜，它要使英国家庭平均每周在食品开销上多支出13.50英镑。Dinosaur的词典释义是“恐龙”，在现代汉语里，它又常被引申为“要被废弃的落后的庞然大物”，如the countrys industrial dinosaur指“该国庞大而陈旧的工业体系”。落后而要被废弃的东西当然也是过时的或不合时宜的，故此处作这样的引申。 词类转换法（Conversion of Part of Speech ）1 Rockets have found application for the exploration of the universe. 火箭已经用来探索宇宙。2. He is a good observer. 他善于观察。 3. Access to the Internet is very simple. 上互联网很简单。4 Nylon is nearly twice as strong as natural silk. 尼龙的强度几乎是天然丝的二倍。词类转换指的是商务英语中语言的词性和表现方法的改变。由于英语和汉语的表达习惯、句子结构和词的搭配关系均有差异，在翻译中往往很难做到词性和表现手法一致。为了适应译文语言的表达习惯和语法规则，在商务英语翻译中必须运用词性转换技巧。同样一个意思，英汉语常用互不相同的结构来表达，因而可以说，词性的转换是随着句子结构改变而产生的。词性转换技巧是一种较灵活的翻译技巧，我们不能一味追求词性的对等，而应根据上下文作恰到好处的调整处理，使译文贴切，以求达到最佳的翻译效果。翻译练习：Extremely keen competition between American and German vehicle manufacturers in the European market has compelled us to change our investment plan.美国与德国汽车制造商在欧洲市场竞争得异常激烈，迫使我们不得不改变投资计划。（英语名词转换成汉语动词） 将英语名词转换成汉语动词，译文更符合汉语的表达习惯。因为与英语相比，汉语句子中动词用得多，除了大量的动宾结构外，还有很多连动式、兼语式等两个以上动词连用的现象。因此，英语中不少词类，如名词、动名词、介词、形容词、副词等在英译汉时往往需要进行一定的调整，转译成汉语动词。当然，英语的名词化和汉语的动词化并不排除在英译汉时把英语动词转化成汉语的名词，再如：1A government report targets earnings from industry at US $ 200 billion by 2008. 政府的一份报告提出一个指标：到2008年，要使工业收入达到2 000 亿美元。（英语动词转换成汉语名词） 2The cost of making goods can be drastically lowered by means of mass-production. 通过批量生产可以大幅度降低生产产品的成本。（英语介词转化成汉语动词） 3Before World War II the most successful attempt to reduce tariffs by reciprocal bargaining was the trade agreements program of the United States, which was limited, however, by its bilateral nature. 第二次世界大战之前，通过互相谈判降低关税的最成功的努力是美国的贸易协定计划，但是这一计划受其双边性质的限制。（英语代词转换成汉语名词）4Advertising affects tremendously every sphere of modern life. 广告对现代生活的方方面面产生极大的影响。（英语副词转换成汉语形容词）5The fair price connected with the superiority of varieties of our products will be able to guarantee our competitive edge in the international market. 我方各种各样的产品价格公平，品质优良，能够确保在国际市场的竞争优势。（英语名词转换成汉语形容词）。 可以看出，经过词性转换后译出的句子明显通顺达意，节奏感强，符合汉语的表达习惯。另外，语言是个无限生成的系统，词类转换也是千变万化的，在翻译实践中需要灵活运用。比如英语名词可以转换为汉语副词，副词可以转换为名词。有时翻译一个句子需要进行几个不同的词类转换。再举例：1 He is physically weak, but mentally swift. 他身体虽弱，但思维敏捷。（副词转换成名词） 2I have the honor to inform you that the new products of yours have entered the international markets. 我荣幸地告诉你，贵公司的新产品已经打入了国际市场。（名词转换成副词）3Lin Zexu believed that a successful ban of the trade in opium must be preceded by the destruction of the drug itself. 林则徐认为，要成功地禁止鸦片，就得首先把鸦片焚毁。（形容词+名词转换为副词 +动词，名词转换为动词） 翻译练习：1 Males and females are equal in their right to inheritance. （形容词转换为名词；介词转换为名词） 继承权男女平等。2 There must be less empty talk and more hard work. （名词转换为动词） 一定要少说空话，多做工作。3For 20 years we were passive witnesses to the deterioration of prices of our raw materials and an excessive increase of the prices of manufactured goods.（形容词名词转换为副词动词） 二十年来我们坐视原材料价格下跌与工业品价格暴涨（的情况）。4A well-dressed man, who looked and talked like an American, got into the car. 一个穿着讲究的人上了车。他的外表和谈吐都像个美国人。 Homework：1He was a regular visitor.2He is no smoker, but his father is a chain-smoker.3An acquaintance of world history is helpful to the study of current affairs.4Talking with the his son, the old man was the forgiver of the young mans past wrong doings.1.定期来访。2. 他不抽烟，可他父亲却一支又一支不停地抽。3读点世界史，对学习时事是有帮助的。4在和儿子谈话时，老人宽恕了年青人过去所干的坏事。 视角转化法（Shift of Perspective） 1. riot police 防暴警察2. crisis law 反危机法3. Students are still arriving. 学生还没有到齐。 4. Dont stop running. 继续跑。5. Inflation is Target of Banks New Policy （China Daily 标题） 反通货膨胀是银行新政的目标。 6.arms conference 裁军会议7. I must confess 不瞒您说，8. People will be long forgetting her. 人们会长久记住她的。 技术点评： 在英译汉过程中，我们常常遇到这样一种情况，即原词所表达的并不是其字面意义，而是其字面意义的反义，或者说是对其字面意义的否定，可这种否定又往往不出现否定词，这种情况并不少见，需要用到视角转化法。 作为翻译中的一种变通手段，视点转换指译者在不涉及特殊文化背景因素的情况下，用译语意义替代原语意义，重组原语信息的表层形式，转换表达角度，使译文更符合汉语习惯，更易于被读者接受，更有利于译文预期功能的实现。如下面这句话常出现在香港的电车门上： Please tender extra fare.（恕不找赎。）“找赎”乃粤语，相当于普通话中的“找零、找钱”。如果顺译则为：“请如数缴费。”但作为无人售票车上的提示语，如果从反面着笔效果会更好。例如，自学teach oneself；远程教育distance learning。视点转换技巧除了包括肯定句与否定句之间的相互转换，还包括其他与原文不同或相反的表达角度。1With the winter coming in, many fashion stores start to sell warm clothes. 冬天即将来临，许多商店开始销售寒衣了。 （此处 warm clothes 不译为“暖和的衣服”，经视角转换后译为“寒衣”，刚好符合汉语的表达习惯，且更简练。） 2Party A shall have a right of first refusal whenever party B wishes to sell any of its shares in the Group. 乙方任何时候有意出售其持有之本集团任何股份，甲方一律拥有优先购买权。（如果把 right of first refusal 刻译成“优先拒绝权”，则有失准确，必须经过视角转换把它译成“优先购买权”才符合行业规范。）3We offer to take ten percent off if your order is big enough. 如果您的订货量足够大的话，我们会给您打九折。（ take ten percent off 本义为“把价格扣除百分之十”，利用视点转换法可翻译成“打九折”。）4The supermarket designated quite a few pick-up points in some comparatively densely populated communities in suburban areas. 该超市在郊区人口相对密集的社区设立了好几个上车地点。（Pick-up points 原义为“接（顾客）的地点”，现在经过视点转换则变为“上车地点”了。）5The seller determines to sell it at one price. 商家决定该产品以不二价销售。（ at one price 为“只以一种价格”，这样的表达不符合汉语的表达习惯，而用“不二价”则表示出商家不愿同顾客讨价还价的决心。）6In his 1776 work The Wealth of Nations, Scottish economist Adam Smith proposed that specialization in production leads to increased output.苏格兰经济学家亚当斯密在其1776年所著的国富论中认为，专业化生产会引起产出增加。（这里，把“生产的产业化”转变为“专业化生产”，把“增加的产出”转变为“产出增加”。）翻译练习：1. With Silicon Valleys unbelievable housing prices in mind, I expected to see a much worse house.由于对硅谷出奇高的房价早有所闻，所以看到房子还过得去，真是出乎我的意料。2. Urban clearway. 市区通道，不准停车。3. Keep upright. 切勿倒置。4. Yet they could only get the blood if one of the frightened children would agree to give it. 然而，如果这些受惊吓的孩子中无人自愿献血，他们就无法得到血。 5. You couldnt kill any more. 你已经恶贯满盈了。6. The bill was defeated, but during the next 25 years more than 100 food and drug bills were introduced in Congress. 虽然议案未获通过，但在随后的25年中，有100多个食品和药品法案被提交到国会。 7. This book could not have been written or published without the help of dozens of people, and I am deeply grateful to all of them.这本书的写作和出版曾得到许多位友人的各种帮助,谨此一并深表谢意。 增减法（Amplification & Pruning ） By amplification we mean supplying necessary words in our translation work so as to make the version correct and clear, to make it more like the language translated into. Of course words thus supplied must indispensable either syntactically or semantically. In other words, a translator is not supposed to add any meaning to the original. There are two kinds: 1)Words for syntactic constructionto secure correctness；2)Words supplied for semantic completionto secure clearness. Both aim at making the version expressive and readily understood by the reader.1Amplification (增词法) 增词法：1) 增补同义词 2) 增补范畴词 3) 增补产品名称 减词法文字增补是商务英语翻译中的重要技巧之一。英语的语言习惯是只要不引起误解便应尽量避免哆嗦。但如果汉译时未进行一定的文字增补，拘泥于原文形式，机械地对译，反而会影响语义的理解和译文的文体风格。翻译练习：1. First you borrow, then you beg. 2. I forgot my key.3. “Itll make a man of him,” said Jack. “College is the place.”4. Inflation has now reached an unprecedented level.5. The essence remains its identity while appearances may vary.6. A red sun is rising slowly on the horizon.White clouds float over the blue sky.7. Theory is something but practice is everything.8. Dont get angry. Im just making fun of you.热身练习：1In the evening, after the banquets, the concerts and the table tennis exhibitions, he would work on the drafting of the final communiqu. 晚上在参加宴会、出席音乐会、观看乒乓球表演之后，他还得起草最后公报。2. Our product is indeed cheap and fine. 我们的产品物美价廉。 3. Reading makes a full man; conference a ready man; writing an exact man.读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，写作使人准确。 （一）增补同义词 词义英语有一词多义的特点，同一个词可以同时与若干个词进行搭配，相互修饰、制约，语言仍自然流畅。但汉语在词的搭配方面相对严谨，同一个词通常不能同时与多个词搭配。根据汉语词的搭配习惯和英语词汇的一词多义的特点，我们应采用文字增补的技巧，这样才能使译文既准确达意，又照顾到汉语的语言习惯。e.g. The innovation of products is one of the reform measures of the SOEs because it can decrease loss, cost and budget. 产品的革新是国企改革措施之一，因为它可以减少损失、降低成本并削减预算。如果直译成：“产品的革新是国企改革措施之一，因为它可以减少损失、成本和预算。”那么，句中的“减少”和“成本”的搭配就不妥当，所以有必要增补相应的汉语词汇。1Investor confidence is crucial to the success of our economic system. 投资者的信心对于经济体系的成功运行至关重要。2Both the buyer and the seller are busy at negotiations of business, contract and draft. 买卖双方正忙于交易磋商，合约谈判和汇票议付。 如果直译为：“买卖双方正忙于交易，合约和汇票的磋商。”那么，“磋商”和“合约”及“汇票”的搭配也不准确，因此，需要译者根据汉语的搭配习惯做出增补。 （二）增补范畴词在英译汉过程中考虑到汉语的表达习惯，经常增加的范畴词有：方法、措施、情况、情绪、状态、现象、方面、问题、关系、工作等。例如：e.g. The changes of requirements for the commodities in the market are affected by the internal and external factors.影响市场对商品需求的变化情况有内因和外因两方面的因素。 如果直译就是：影响市场对商品需求的变化有内因和外因两方面。但若添加范畴词“情况”、“方面”等来修饰相应的抽象名词，changes和 factors 更加具体、明确，符合汉语的修辞需要。1. The tension in the Middle East has attracted much attention. 中东的紧